Coin control mechanism



P 1934- w. J. MARTIN 1,973,875

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l f ayiigvazfir:

rM -M Sept. 18, 1934. w. J. MARTIN COIN CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 16; 1931 2 Sheets*Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES COIN CONTROL MECHANISM William J. Martin, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Snax Automatic Stores, Inc, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 16, 1931, Serial No. 515,918 Renewed February 10, 1934 8 Claims.

My invention relates to a coin control mechanism particularly adapted for use on coin controlled vending machines and the like, and more particularly to a coin control mechanism of the general type disclosed in the co-pending application of Ferdinand Ziganek for slug detecting means, Serial No. 443,755, filed April 12, 1930.

It is essential in the operation of coin controlled vending machines that suitable means be 313 provided for the detection of spurious coins or slugs which may be inserted in the machine in 'place of the genuine coins upon which the machine is designed to operate. The slug detecting mechanism is, therefore, one of the most important features of any coin control mechanism.

It has been found that many so-called slug detector or coin detector mechanisms are not effective in separating the slugs or spurious coins from the genuine coins and frequently permit the operation of the vending machine by such slugs or spurious coins. It also has been found desirable that the slug detecting mechanism used It has been found, however, that this characteristic is also possessed by certain slugs which have been used in the operation of vending machines embodying a slug detector which depends upon the raised rim of the coin to separate the genuine coin from a slug.

Slug detecting mechanisms also should be so constructed as to be readily installed in various types of coin controlled vending machines. It is essential, therefora that such devices be of a size and shape which will not require too much space in the vending machine.

Mechanical simplicity and positive action are essential in coin controls of this type. Thus the elimination of excess parts in such a control and the provision of a mechanism which positively locks the coin controlled vending machine at all times except whena proper coin has been placed in the machine, are improvements much to be desired in mechanisms of this type.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invenine coins so as to prevent the operation of the tion to provide a coin control mechanism which is accurate in its operation and which may be readily installed in a coin controlled vending machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coin control mechanism which will opcrate only on genuine coins of the proper predetermined denomination and which will separate slugs or coins of improper denominations from proper coins; and which in addition will expel such slugs or such coins of improper denominations from the machine, thus leaving the machine to which it is attached unimpaired for subsequent operations with proper coins.

These, and various other objects, features of arrangement, construction and operation, are 7 plainly shown and described and will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which:

' Fig. 1 is a front plan view of a coin control .7 mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 2-is a fragmentary view in side elevation partially in cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig.1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. l;

Fig. .4' is a cross sectional view in side elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the rear ofthe coin control shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view'taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; 1

Fig. '7 is a view in cross section taken on the line 7'7 of Fig. 1. I

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

-Referring more in detail to thedrawings, 8 designates a plate upon which is mounted the coin control mechanism embodying my invention, said plate 8 being of suitable size and shape for mounting ina coin controlled vending machine (not shown). The plate 8 carries a coin receiving chute 9 and slug expelling chutes 10' and 11. Acoin chute 12 is provided and com municates with the coin receiving chute 9. An arcuate slot 13 'extends through the faces of the coin chutes 9 and 12. One end of the coin chute 12 is adjacent'the who look 14 secured to the rotatable operating shaft 15 of the vending machine (not shown).

Mounted on the slug expelling chute 10 is a slidable carrier member 16, to which is secured a projecting member 17, a pivotedlever 18' and an upwardly .extending. finger 19. Pivotally -1 The lever 20 pivots about the point 26 secured; to I the slug expelling chute l and is pressedby a spring 27 (Fig. i) which yieldingly'presses th lever 20 toward the coin chute 1Q.

Pivotally mounted on the slidablememberl is a swinging latch member 28 yieldingly held in;

the position shown in Fig.1 by a spring 29 secured to the slidable member 16; The swinging latch member 28 contacts with an arm 30"rigi'dly 'se'- cured to the coin controlled locking member 14; Separating the upper coin chute 9 from the slug *expelling'fchute l0 is-a-pivoted'gate member-31 V and 5 'which is attached to a-*pivoted flmki fwhich is" connected with the pivoted 'leverfld. secured 17 0" the slidablemember 16: A beveledpoint' 33;mounted one; flat spr s; (Fig. I4)? moves th ou h n; o eni 5 15;: i e i 9 in com chute' and ismounted adjacent-thegate andjthejco etectingsomt 22, The upwardly t tending fingeriflasecured'to the slid'able memjjue ifigf contacts "withfthe spring s4 a tracts to 01' the caus t on-tr the beveled point'33u slug expeuing chutef'llK Fig e) communicates with the interior of thecoin- "receiving Qchiit' '9. IAn' dpen n as is 'p'rovidedin the wall er the ears "chute '9 w permi 'coins" 'or "slugs to frOinIheinteriOrof jthe'coinj'chut'e ar the lslugl'expellii'ig hjuteii, the 'openingBSjbeing or such a"siZe that"c6in's or's'lu'gs having a smaller r diameter than the coins upon which thede'viceis 440 intendedto dpfatvvilliall through the opening 36and directly into'the' slug expelling chute 1'1, 'Iwitiipiiti necessitating emcee-anon r themachine. .i, a. v Thecoin lock l l may be of anyconventional fiestas fer whichis'heres'iiownjand whichcomprises a plates? onfwhichisiormed 'acoin pocket 38 (Fig. 2Y1 Abaclglplatefie' has ratchetst), which are engaged'by jthe spring fpr'essed' pawl 41 's'e'cured to the" back plate pivoted locking .dog, .42, is mount onjthe plate '8', and a spring 43"a'nd d'stdp' ir are 'secure'dEto the back plate 8 and act to hold the locking dog '42" inthe position shown'in"Figil; The coincontrolled locking member 14 is secured to the operating shaft 15 *ft'h vnding 'inaeh ne (not'shown). 'A flat coil spring 45 is placed at the r'ear ef the back plate 8 'andis 'attached to theoperating shaft 15 and acts to "returnthe coin controlled lockingzmem- *beimend the associated slug detectingrmecha- 60 ni sm to the position :shown in Fig; 1 afterr'the "machineehasabeen operatedn" 1;.1

As shown in Fig. =3:,'. the coindetecting-point 22 15 secured to theipivoted'lever 20 by means of lock nuts Aden'gag'ing the screwethreaded shank porration of..ithe poin t -22g.:i ln' theembodiment-of s-my'inventionhereshowm the coin 'detectingrpoint :22 is iormed. witha 153- angle tapering end por- ;tion iS ha-vingja flat end +1 9., t hasbeen round desirabieth theend l s d ets a.sha p point and that the end operatesmoreisatisfacstorily if there. i's'iajiat surface. ,oiwapproximately 13.025 inches. iii-diameter.-. a It has been found that .lthesei'dimensions permit the coin detecting point '22 tof'contact with a; coin at about 3 20f an inch Ji n 1,973,875 z. virus-i .31.33;

from the raised edge portion and so insure more perfect operation of the device.

While it has been found that the device enibo-dying my invention will operate as shown in the various views, it is desirable that it be mounted in amachineat a slight; angle instead or vertisally asshownjn Fig.4. 'Ifhis permits the improper coins or slugs to drop more readily through the opening 36 and into the slug expelling chute 'Ifheoperation of my invention is as follows:

'As suming that I have a coin control embodying my invention designed for operating only on fivepent pieces, and assuming that a proper five-cent piece has been inserted in the machine and drops into the coin chute 9, the coin falls through the coin chute 9 and is held by the pivoted gate 31.

Thep'erson operating the machine turns the proper mechanism for rotating the shaft 15. The mechanism shown is such that a partial rotation of the I shaft 1-5 is permitted without operating- =-the machine and without causing the"coin-'released --=locking' member --14-. to 'c'ontactwith-the locking "(Stole-42. u i Upon rotation the swing'in glatch 28 and move the slidable mem- 'ber-16.- The movement of the slidable'member 16 movesthe projecting member --l"? in the slot- 21' 'thepivoted." lever 20 andcauses the lever- 20 to pivot about the pivot point '26. This movement Y detecting point "22 to' move inwardly and; against L the coin held by the -gate 31.- -'This same movement hr the slidablemember '16 is transmitted through theupwardly projecting finger -19 5 and releases the s rm'gea which permits the beveled point33 to contact with the coir-l on'- the 'side o'pr the shaft l5; the "coin-lock i4 is-rotatedand causes the -arm-30t0 contact with 'posite the coin 'detecting pOint-ZZ Continued moveme'nt of the slida'ble member 15in the upward direction by the rotation of the shaft 15, 35 above described; causes the coin detecting -'-point :22 to bemoved'by-the'lever 20 -in'--the curved slot 1 l3, and the coinwhich has been assumed tohave been inserted in the machine bein'g a genuin'e five-cent piece," the point 22 contacts with the 'r'iin 0f thefcoin and mov'es it into the coin chute l2."

'Wh'en th-e coin has" been moved sufiiciently to faIli-ntothe coin ChutelZfthe'depressed portion 25 "of theflever 20 contacts with another or the raised'jportions 249m the track 23; causing" the point22f to be raised and the coin dropped into the coin chu'te l2; from-which it is-free to roll into theboihpocketBft-of the coin controlled locli- "in'g"mernber, 1 4; When the' 'slid'abl'e member 16 has moved'to a position which permits the point trolled locking member l4 has= been so rotated that the locking dog 5 42' .will contact with thetop of the coi-n'whi'ch -has been deposited in the coin poeket ia and permit-the full'rotation of-the min 'controlled locking 'rriember {14. 'Ehe 111611 11361 =30 "seeuredto-the coin controlled locking member" -14 causes theswinging latchj 23 to push against the spring 29 and is a-Ho-Wd' to swing sum-Greatly to ite means for returning said coin released locking means and said slug detecting means to their original positions after operation of said operating means.

3. A control for coin operated machines having operating means, and including coin released locking means secured to said operating means, slug detecting means operatively connected with said coin released locking means and including a central coin chute, a gate dividing said central coinchute into a coin receiving portion and a slug expelling portion, means for conveying coins from said coin receiving portion of said central coin chute to said coin released locking means, said conveying means including a pivoted lever secured to said central chute and a coin convey ing point secured to said pivoted lever, means actuated by said operating means for moving said lever and said coin conveying point, and means secured to said means for moving said lever whereby said gate is opened after movement of said lever, and means for returning said coin released locking means and said slug det cting means to their original positions after operation of said operating means.

4. A control for coin operated machines having operating means, and including coin released lccking means secured to said operatin means, slug detecting means operatively connected with said coin released locking means and including a central coin chute, a gate dividing said central coin chute into a coin receiving portion and a slug expelling portion, means for conveying coins from said coin receiving portion of said central coin chute to said coin released locking means, said conveying means including a pivoted lever secured to said central chute and a coin conveying point secured to said pivoted lever, and a side chute communicating with said central chute, actuated by said operating means for moving said lever and said coin conveying point in the direction of said side chute, means secured to said means for moving said lever for opening said gate after movement of said lever, and means controlled by said means for moving said lever whereby coins or slugs having openings therein are prevented from being delivered to said coin released locking means by said coin'conveying means, and means for returning said coin released locking means and said slug detecting means to their original positions after operation of said operating means.

5. A control for coin operated machines having operating means, and including coin released locking means secured to said operating means, slug detecting means operatively connected with said coin released locking means and including a central coin chute, movable means dividing said central coin chute into a coin receiving portion and a slug expelling portion, means for conveying coins from said coin receiving portion of said central coin chute to said coin released locking means and including a pivoted lever secured to said central chute and a coin conveying point having a. slightly fiat point of contact with a coin or slug and secured to said pivoted lever, means actuated by said operating means for moving said lever and said coin conveying point, means for operating said means dividing said central coin chute into a coin receiving portion and a slug expelling portion whereby coins not conveyed from said coin receiving portion will drop into said 'slug expelling portion, and means for returning said coin released locking means and said slug detecting means to their original positions after operation of said operating means.

6. A control for coin operated machines hav' ing operating means, and including coin released locking means secured to said operating means, slug detecting means operatively connected with .said coin released locking means and including a central coin chute, a pivoted gate dividing said central coin chute into a coin receiving portion and a slug expelling portion, means for conveying coins from said coin receiving portion of said central coin chute to said coin released locking means, said means including a pivoted lever se-' cured to said central chute and a coin conveying point secured to said pivoted lever, means actuated by said operating means for moving said lever and said-coin conveying point, and means secured to said means for moving said lever whereby said pivoted gate is opened after movement of said lever, and means for returning said coin released locking means and said slug detecting means to their original positions after operation of said operating means.

'7. A control for coin operated machines having operating means, and including coin released locking means secured to said operating means, slug detecting means including'a coin receiving chute, a coin conveying chute communicating said. coin receiving chute, and slug expelling chutes communicating with said coin receiving a chute, movable means separating said coin receiving chute from one of said slug expelling chutes means for testing genuine coin and means for conveying a genuine coin from said coin receiving chute to said coin conveying chute, and means 'operatively connecting said means for testing said coins andsaid means for conveying said coins with said operating means whereby partial operation of said operatingmeans will operate said slug detecting means and said means separating said coin receivingv chute from one of said slug expelling chutes whereby genuine coins will be conveyed to said coin released locking means and all other coins will be dropped into said slug expelling chute, and means for returning said coin released locking means and said slug detecting means to their original positions after operation of said operating means.

8. A control for coin operated machines having operating means, and including coin released locking means, slug detecting means including means for testing a coin for diameter, means for testing a coin for a raised rim, and means for determining the presence of a holein said coin, and means operatively connecting the movable elements of said slug detecting means with said coin released locking means whereby a partial movement of said coin released locking means operates said slug detecting means to test a coin inserted therein relative to the presence of a raised rim thereon and the presence of a hole in the face thereof, the said operation releasing all coins or slugs inserted in the slug detecting means not having predetermined characteristics, and means for returning said coin released locking means and said slug detecting means to their riginal positions after operation of said operating means.

, WILLIAM J. MARTIN. 

